Cuando Sea Joven

This well-acted, feel-good reverse-Big is a sweet reminder of how elderly people might use their youth differently if given a second chance. It's a tween-friendly dramedy that delights in exploring what happens when a septuagenarian suddenly finds herself in her 20s again. The movie benefits from the screen presence of Castro, who's one of Mexico's most famous actors, as well as Dupeyrón playing her younger self. Derbez has produced and starred in a few remakes (CODA included). Not all of them have been worth watching (Overboard!), but his choice to back this one was a success. The many ways that Maria channels her inner granny are charming and funny, especially when she's giving unsolicited advice, lightly admonishing her grandson and the band, and singing her favorite songs. Screenwriters Juan Carlos Garzón and Angélica Gudiño capture the essence of the original film, with some moments nearly note-for-note (like when a young man first spots the newly transformed Malena on a bus and hits on her).

Although the swapped-bodies storyline has been done dozens of times across the decades, this addition manages to avoid complete predictability, especially once it seems like Maria is in no rush to "return" to her older body. The movie skirts around any icky possibilities surrounding a grandson meeting a beautiful young woman who's actually his grandmother by offering her not one but two love interests -- Esteban (Pierre Louis), a handsome music producer she initially encounters in a silly moment when Maria tries to use Malena's senior discount at a pharmacy, and Ramon, the older restaurant owner whose crush on Malena makes him feel connected to his new employee, Maria. The age gaps -- real or imagined -- are played for laughs, and veteran comedian Ibáñez is up to the task, "competing" as Ramon for Maria/Malena's affection. The final reason Cuando Sea Joven is such a winning comedy is that, like CODA, the music is catchy and well performed, and the soundtrack is stacked with covers and original Spanish-language songs. This is a fun family comedy that will make everyone laugh -- for different reasons.